The Trump administration has fired thousands of federal employees, particularly those in their probationary period, as part of a sweeping effort to reduce the size of the government. While President Trump claims the move is aimed at cutting wasteful spending, workers, unions, and lawmakers argue that the mass layoffs will disrupt essential public services and violate federal employment laws.
What Happened?
Mass Firings Across Federal Agencies
- Probationary employees—those with less than one year of service and without civil service protections—were fired en masse on Thursday, February 13.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) alone terminated more than 1,000 employees.
- Other agencies affected include the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and National Institutes of Health (NIH).
- Workers received impersonal, non-personalized termination emails, with little to no communication from supervisors.
Why Were They Fired?
- Trump’s February 11 executive order mandated mass layoffs to “eliminate waste, bloat, and insularity” in the government.
- Many federal employees argue that the move wasn’t based on job performance, but rather on the fact that probationary employees were the easiest to dismiss.
Impact on Government Services
Veterans’ Services at Risk
- The VA is already understaffed, and cutting employees will only make it harder to provide essential services for veterans.
- A terminated VA employee warned:
“We are under-resourced as it is, so cutting jobs won’t do it. Veterans will suffer.”
Health and Safety Concerns
- The FDA and CDC are losing staff, which could delay drug approvals and public health research.
- An FDA employee said:
“This will have a tremendous, terrible impact on access to drugs and generic medications.”
Federal Workforce Crisis
- The federal workforce is already aging, with twice as many workers over 60 as under 30.
- The mass firings disproportionately affect younger employees, potentially worsening the government’s long-term workforce shortages.
Reactions and Legal Challenges
Unions Sue the Trump Administration
- Five major federal employee unions have filed lawsuits, arguing that:
- The firings violate federal employment laws governing Reductions in Force (RIFs).
- The firings were not justified by workload or funding shortages, which are the only legal grounds for mass layoffs.
Congress Pushes Back
- Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) condemned the move, stating:
“Trump is firing probationary employees because it is easy, not because it is good for veterans or cost-effective.”
- Many lawmakers argue that the mass terminations are a waste of taxpayer money, as the government has already spent months recruiting, vetting, and training these employees.
What’s Next?
More Layoffs Coming?
- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expects to fire most of its 5,200 probationary employees on Friday, February 14.
- Nearly 1,300 employees at the CDC—about 10% of its workforce—are expected to be dismissed.
Legal Battles May Halt Firings
- If unions succeed in their lawsuit, some fired workers may be reinstated.
- Agencies have until Tuesday, February 18 to report final termination numbers to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
The Trump administration’s decision to fire thousands of federal employees has sparked fierce backlash from workers, unions, and lawmakers. Critics argue that the mass layoffs will hurt veterans, delay drug approvals, and weaken government agencies.
With lawsuits pending and Congress pushing back, the future of these firings remains uncertain.
For now, many federal employees are left jobless, questioning the long-term consequences of shrinking the U.S. government workforce.